Coupled model analysis of the ablative Rayleigh–Taylor instability

Abstract

Abstract The weakly nonlinear stage of the ablative Rayleigh–Taylor instability (ARTI) is investigated by expanded hydrodynamic equations in which the third-order corrections of the two-mode perturbations are considered. In the present coupling model, two linear perturbations are simultaneously added near the ablation front at the initial moment, and we have derived the first three coupling harmonics. Furthermore, the coupling model analysis is studied via direct numerical simulation as well. When the original two fundamental modes are always dominant over other modes, the time evolution of the density amplitudes for these modes agrees well with the results of direct numerical simulation. It is found that the harmonics are stabilized by the mode coupling effects, and the long wavelength mode of the fundamental modes tends to dominate the growth of the ARTI. Two-mode coupling is one of the restriction factors for the realization of controlled inertial confinement fusion. Therefore, the coupling harmonics excited by two-mode perturbations have good application potential and are worth further study.